8 Late-Round Sleepers Who Would Be Perfect for Miami Dolphins
As the 2015 NFL draft class shapes up, it’s fun to look at the premium prospects and how they could potentially fit with a team. But it’s important to remember the players that are selected on Day 3, as they’re often vital to team depth, and sometimes the next superstar is found.
When selecting a player on Day 3, taking a high-upside athlete that will contribute on special teams while they develop into a functional positional player can be a wise investment. The alternative is to take players with elite traits that can excel in a specific scheme but get overlooked due to size, character or injury concerns.
Either way, here are eight late-round sleepers who can develop into contributors for the Miami Dolphins in the next few seasons.
Anthony Chickillo, DE, Miami (FL)
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A player with whom South Floridians may be familiar due to how close the University of Miami is to the Dolphins’ home, defensive end Anthony Chickillo is a very intriguing Day 3 prospect. According to CBS Sports, Chickillo is projected as a fourth-round pick.
Measuring 6’4”, 275 pounds, Chickillo has a good frame for a run-stuffing, strong-side defensive end. On tape, he shows that he understands his best traits, which include his impressive upper-body strength and good hand usage when engaged with the blocker.
Chickillo was misused in a 3-4 front often at Miami, and when he had the chance to play in a base 4-3 in the East-West Shrine Game, he was a stud. According to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, Chickillo was the most impressive player of that all-star game. His work ethic and motor are two major positives for the former 5-star recruit, as well as his ability to defend the run.
John Crockett, RB, North Dakota State
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The 2015 running back class is insanely deep with quality players, which is great for every team shopping for another playmaker. Miami could very well be looking to add a pair of fresh legs to the stable of young backs they’ve been working with the last few seasons.
With some of the higher-profile players likely going on Day 1 or Day 2 of the draft, John Crockett is going to be a great value for a zone-blocking scheme. At 6’1”, 217 pounds, Crockett is a physical, yet lean athlete with great burst to turn the corner.
What Miami can appreciate in Crockett is his ability to press the running lane, which draws the linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage. When the linebackers creep up, Crockett will explode into the running lane and expose the leverage that he created. This is a masterful skill that separates the good from the great backs in some circumstances.
Ali Marpet, OG, Hobart
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While in attendance for the 2015 Senior Bowl practices last week, I was watching the offensive line closely, as the Dolphins desperately need an interior lineman to fill out their guard rotation. With Bill Turner coming off a redshirt year, he should be in the mix for one of the guard openings, but the other spot will be up for grabs when Mike Pouncey moves back to center.
The most dominant lineman at the game, bar none, was Ali Marpet from Hobart. The Division III product was playing his best as a left guard, showing the ability to pass protect with great consistency. He plays low to the ground and explodes through his lift at the snap, giving him the leverage advantage.
His strength is impressive, but his technique helps as well. Hobart ran the ball 220 more times than attempted passes, so to see his consistency in hand usage and placement is really eye-opening. He looks like a Day 2 talent based off the practices alone, but with his status as a D-III player, he could be a Day 3 steal.
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Craig Mager, CB, Texas State
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Listed at 6’0”, 191 pounds, Craig Mager is a definite sleeper right now. The Texas State product has great character to start with. He had to overcome an absentee father and his mother’s death at a young age to get to where he is now; he’s the type of person who works hard for everything and is relentless on the field.
Mager has a lot of experience, starting every possible game in his four-year career. He looks so smooth in zone coverage, with good feet that allow him to backpedal and then transition to attack the ball. He’s physical as a run defender and is willing to get right into the face of the ball-carrier.
He’s not very physical right now throughout routes, but that’s a developmental point of his game. He needs to time his hits better and challenge the receiver as the ball arrives. But as a late Day 3 flier, he’s a good gamble for a team lacking defensive back talent.
Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary
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Another Shrine Game standout, Tre McBride could be the 2015 version of Arizona Cardinals standout rookie John Brown. At 6’1”, 205 pounds, McBride was described as “a smooth athlete who tracks the ball well,” according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com.
McBride is a physical player who relies on winning at the catch point instead of creating a lot of separation. He is very good at high-pointing the football at the optimal time, understanding where he needs to be to come down with the ball. His ability to be a downfield threat should translate well because he has a size and strength advantage over many cornerbacks.
Coming from William & Mary, McBride is raw as a route runner and technician. His release from the line shows that his foot speed is average. Another concern is that he hasn’t seen much press at the line of scrimmage.
But late-round players have flaws that can be developed, and McBride has the tools that are worthy of being developed.
Derrick Lott, DT, Chattanooga
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One of the top FCS players in the country throughout his career was Chattanooga’s Derrick Lott. The sixth-year senior is an older prospect, but he is powerful as a defensive tackle and brings the ability to produce immediately.
Lott is 6’4”, 303 pounds and has shown to be somewhat dominant at times. He’s incredibly strong at the point of attack, using his long arms and thick frame to lock out on the blocker and play the ball. He’s not much of a pass-rusher, but he does demand double-teams when he’s playing well.
Titus Davis, WR, Central Michigan
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The 6’2”, 190-pound receiver from Central Michigan hasn’t been able to get on to the national scene mostly because of his supporting cast and lack of interest in non-Power Five conferences, but he’s a solid sleeper in this draft class.
Davis has good quickness and deep speed for his size, but his route running is highly impressive. His career highs of 1,109 yards in 2013, and 13 touchdowns in 2014 would have been higher had his quarterback been able to take advantage of Davis’ ability to get open more effectively.
Wes Saxton, TE, South Alabama
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At 6’4” and 243 pounds, Wes Saxton is one of the better pure athletes in the draft class for tight ends. He’s coming off a season where he wasn’t able to put up impressive statistics, which gives credence to the idea that he’s a developmental athlete at the position.
Instead of taking a limited-upside player on Day 3, Saxton is a better gamble, as his physical traits indicate he could become a great player. Sure, there’s a chance he becomes very little or doesn’t find a place to stick in the league. But that’s the risk that is appropriate for a seventh-round pick.
All stats used are from sports-reference.com.
Ian Wharton is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, contributor for Optimum Scouting, and analyst for eDraft.
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